Queen Silvia’s Children’s Hospital named the best healthcare project of the decade worldwide

Each year, the prestigious European Healthcare Design Awards recognize the world’s leading healthcare architecture. This year, special Champions Awards were also presented, where the winners from the past ten years competed against each other. A total of 18 projects from around the world—including two designed by White Arkitekter—were nominated across six categories.

Both of White Arkitekter’s projects received accolades. The refurbishment and expansion of Carlanderska Hospital, designed for the Carlanderska Hospital Foundation, was awarded “Highly Commended” in the Design for Adaptation and Transformation category. Meanwhile, Queen Silvia’s Children’s Hospital, designed for Västfastigheter and Sahlgrenska University Hospital, was named the winner in the Interior Design and Arts category.

Present to receive the award for Queen Silvia’s Children’s Hospital, alongside a delegation from White Arkitekter, was Kate Abrahamsson from Sahlgrenska University Hospital. In her acceptance speech, she highlighted the strong collaboration and the dedicated efforts to accommodate the needs and wishes of the children and their families throughout the building process.

Queen Silvia’s Children’s Hospital is the result of an interdisciplinary collaboration, where White’s interior architects and architects worked closely together to create a healing environment. Beyond enabling efficient healthcare, the architecture contributes to recovery and helps ease daily life for both patients and their families.

Playfulness has been integrated throughout the building’s design, as play is essential for children’s development. The child’s perspective and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child played a key role in the planning process. Regardless of illness or disabilities, healthy play must always be encouraged as a professional tool for recovery. The environment and artworks support this by providing meaningful activities and opportunities for engagement.

Art plays a significant role in the design and is seamlessly integrated into the building. With the child’s perspective as a guiding theme, the artworks invite play and exploration. Play is an essential part of the rehabilitation process, and the art stimulates and encourages recovery—it is not merely decorative. The work with the artworks has been led by Västra Götaland Region’s art unit, headed by Eleonora Fors Szuba.

Read more about how we incorporated the child’s perspective in the design of Queen Silvia’s Children’s Hospital here.